Politics

APC future depends on Nigerian youth – Buni

Published

4 years ago

June 21, 2021

Governor Mai Mala Buni of Yobe says the future of the All Progressives Congress, APC, lies in the hands of Nigerian Youths.

Mr Buni, also Chairman, APC Caretaker and Extra-Ordinary Convention Planning Committee, CECPC, said this at the APC Progressives Youth Conference on Monday in Abuja.

He said the conference which was the first of its kind in the history of the APC, came at a time the party was undergoing complete rebirth, recovery, rehabilitation, rejuvenation and repositioning.

“It is a fact that the future of our great party, the APC and indeed, the country, lies in our youth, so, we cannot afford to discard the youth in the affairs of the party.

“We must invest in the youth for a better future for the party and the country.

“Therefore, this conference and theme are both strategic and timely for a prosperous future for the party and our beloved country,” he said.

Mr Buni said under his leadership, the APC had been rescued from trouble and disintegration to a strong, solid, reliable and ever growing political party.

He added that the youths had remained progressively united to the APC throughout its turbulent times.

Mr Buni said during the reconciliation process, APC youths were cooperative to the collective approach to rebuilding the party.

“You are indeed great and we remain grateful.

“This also explains why the CECPC under my leadership took a deliberate position of engaging the youth in every process,” he said.

He explained that as part of the party’s strategic approach to youth engagement, a committee on youth, women and people with special needs was constituted during the membership registration/revalidation exercise.

He said the active role played by youths contributed massively to the success of the party’s membership registration/revalidation.

“As the theme of the conference suggests, the decision for the future of this party and country cannot be at any other time better than now, especially so as the country’s corporate unity and security were being challenged,” he said.

He said there was need to exploit all available opportunities to work towards promoting national unity, democracy and dialogue, assuring that the party would continue investing in the country’s unity and future.

He, however, urged youths not to allow themselves to be used by retrogressive elements with evil interests in causing confusion, creating and fanning hate and disunity.

“You must resist them, you should never allow yourselves to be use as tools in the hands of these treacherous elements,” Mr Buni said.

The governor acknowledged the support of President Muhammadu Buhari and other leaders of the party which had translated into the rebirth of the APC.

He said the development had given every member of the party a true sense of belonging and pride.

He said that the CECPC was making efforts to approach the party’s congresses and convention with a united front.

Mr Buni said this was critical to producing a strong leadership that would enjoy the support, trust and confidence of all members.

He said that what the party needed was a leadership that would protect its interest above personal and primordial interests, to promote unity and make it more prosperous.

“We are on course and count on the support of every member of the party to enable us complete this great assignment successfully with sense of commitment and fulfilment that will make us proud,” Mr Buni said.

The conference was attended by some youth representatives from across the 36 states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, as well as Kenyan and other African countries.

NAN

Politics

Gov Yusuf directs aides to declare their assets

Published

4 weeks ago

March 21, 2025

Matthew Eloyi

Gov Yusuf directs aides to declare their assets

Gov. Abba Yusuf of Kano State has instructed all his political appointees to declare their assets.

Yusuf gave the directive during an Iftar (Ramadan breaking of Fast) with Heads of Government Agencies and Special Advisers at Government House, Kano.

The governor said that 60 to 70 per cent of the appointees had yet to comply with the Code of Conduct rules.

He urged them to promptly obtain, complete, and submit the necessary forms, to ensure compliance with the law.

Yusuf also addressed special advisers on the importance of providing counsel and submitting reports on governance matters.

He encouraged them to actively monitor government affairs and offer advice, whether positive or negative.

Yusuf also said that 13 Hajj seats bad been allocated to the Heads of Government Agencies.

Responding on behal of the appointees, Dr Rahila Mukhtar, the Executive Secretary of the Kano State Contributory Health Care Management Agency (KCHIMA), thanked the governor for his support.

The Secretary to the State Government, Malam Umar Ibrahim, reminded the appointees of their oath to execute their duties with justice.

Ibrahim urged them to remain committed to Yusuf’s mission and vision, prioritising transformation and improving the standard of living for citizens.

Headlines

Supreme Court nullifies Rivers LG elections

Published

2 months ago

February 28, 2025

Matthew Eloyi

The Supreme Court on Friday, nullified the Local Government election in Rivers State, which was conducted on Oct. 5, 2024.

A five-member panel of the apex court unanimously held that the election was conducted in violation of relevant laws.

Justice Jamilu Tukur, in the lead judgment, agreed with the appellant, the All Progressives Congress (APC), that conditions precedent were not complied with before the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC) held the election.

Justice Tukur held that there was no evidence that the voters’ registration continued until 90 days before the election and that the requisite notices were issued as required by law.

Headlines

Supreme Court dismisses Fubara’s suit seeking to remove 27 pro-Wike lawmakers

Published

2 months ago

February 10, 2025

Matthew Eloyi

The Supreme Court on Monday dismissed the suit by Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara seeking to remove 27 members of the State House of Assembly on ground of their alleged defection from the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Justice Uwani Aba-Aji delivered the judgment following the dramatic withdrawal of the appeal by Fubara through his lead counsel, Yusuf Ali, SAN.

Fubara in the notice for withdrawal of the case simply informed a three-man panel of justices of the court that events have overtaken his suit and that the lawmakers are their friends.

The request for the withdrawal of the contentious suit was not opposed by the Rivers States House of Assembly and its Speaker, Martin Amaewhule who were represented by Chief Wole Olanipekun, SAN.

Olanipekun, however, demanded for outright dismissal of the suit on the premise that parties have filed and exchanged their brief of arguments and thus, joined issues with each other.

He argued that the proper order to be made in the circumstances is the dismissal of the case which the court agreed with.

Following no objections from parties, the apex court dismissed it and awarded two million each against Fubara to be paid to the House of Assembly and Amaewhule.

Addressing newsmen shortly after the dismissal of the suit, Ken Njemanze, SAN said that the coast has been finally cleared for the 27 lawmakers to take over the House of Assembly fully.

Njemanze said that all steps taken by Fubara in the absence of the 27 lawmakers, including presentation of the 2024 and 2025 budgets to only four lawmakers among others, have become a nullity.

The Court of Appeal had on October 10, 2024 dismissed Fubara’s an appeal on the same matter.

The Federal High Court in Abuja

presided over by Justice James Omotosho on January 22, 2024, also nullified the passage of Rivers State’s N800 billion 2024 budget by four members of the House of Assembly.

The court had described the bill’s passage by the four lawmakers, led by Hon. Ehie Edison, as an aberration and illegality.

It consequently ordered Fubara to re-present the budget to the Martins Amaewhule-led Assembly.

The suit filed by the 27 members of the Assembly loyal to former governor of the state and Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Nyesom Wike filed the suit which got the blessings of the lower court.

Listed as defendants of the suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1613/2023 are the National Assembly, the Senate, the House of Representatives, and the Clerk to the National Assembly.

Others include Governor Fubara, Hon. Edison, the Rivers State Civil Service Commission, and the Inspector-General of Police(IGP).

Justice Omotosho had while ruling on an ex-parte motion by the 27 legislators issued an interim order restraining Fubara and his agents from obstructing the pro-Wike legislators from carrying out their constitutional duties.

He also restrained the governor from removing/redeploying the Clerk of the Assembly and withholding funds meant for the Assembly, pending the determination of the substantive suit.

The governor had also prevented the pro-Wike legislators from sitting by demolishing a part of the Assembly complex and withholding funds for legislative functions.

Delivering judgment, Justice Omotosho had held that the four lawmakers’ passage of the budget and other actions taken while the 30 November 2023 order subsisted amounted to a nullity.

He said the governor acted like a tyrant in the manner the Assembly complex was partially demolished and funds for legislative activities withheld.

The judge had issued an order restraining Fubara from frustrating the Assembly-led by Hon. Amaewhule from sitting or interfering in its activities.

He also described as unlawful, Governor Fubara’s redeployment of the Clerk and Deputy Clerk out of the Assembly, stating that the action amounted to an affront on separation of power.

The judge ordered the Clerk and the Deputy Clerk to resume office immediately and unhindered.

Apart from also asking Fubara to promptly release all monies standing to the credit of the Assembly, he also ordered the Inspector General of Police (IGP) to immediately deploy his operatives to the Assembly complex.

The judge had also barred the National Assembly from taking over the Assembly or accepting or treating any request by Governor Fubara on any matter affecting the Legislature.